Vending machine



Dec. 19, 1944. a. c. BAUMAN ETAL VENDING MACHINE Filed June 15, 1940 '7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 19, 1944. G. c. BAUMAN ETAL VENDING MACHINE Filed June 15 1940 7 Shee'ts-Sheet 3 III-II lul'lll I III I a 1 ll! olrlllllllfig.

Dec. 19, 1944.

G. C. BAUMAN ETAL VENDI NG MACHINE Filed June 15, 1940 '7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Dec. 19, 1944. cs. c. BAUMAN EI'AL 2,3

VENDING MACHINE Filed June 15, 1940 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 W H Z795 .ZQQ

1944- G. c. BAUMAN ETAL 2,365,165

VENDING MACHINE Filed June 15, 1940 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 ZZZ fzaezi? 1944- G. c. BAUMAN ETAL 2,365,165

VENDING MACHINE Filed June 15, 1940 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Georgefiau/nalz @777 11502817,

Patented Dec. 19, 1944 VENDING MACHINE George C. Bauman and John E. Bolen. Morris,

and Ernest H. Thompson. Winnetka, 111., assignors to Automatic. Canteen Company of America, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware Application June 15, 1940, Serial No. 340,668

3 Claims. (01. 194-85) This invention relates to improvements in vending machines for bulk material and as illustrated herein has to do with the provision of a coin controlled, selective machine for vending peanuts or the like.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a means for permitting the quickassembly of the operating elements of a vending machine in a cabinet. A feature contributing toward the attainment of this object in the present invention is a die casting having a principal wall with tracks, shoulders and the like on opposite sides thereof to receive plate members and scavengers for the purpose of forming two complete coin mechanisms, one on each side of thewall, and having other extending portions to which may be fastened all of the other operable elements of a bulk vending machine such as an external control and driving trains, storage bins or magazines, dispensing means for each magazine and empty locks. This central casting preferably carries downwardly directed stud members which may be positioned in seats such as holes formed in the inner wall of the vending machine cabinet so that the entire vending mechanism may be removed from the cabinet by the simple expedient of lifting the central casting out of such seats and holes. The use of a central casting around which the entire vending mechanism is built greatly facilitates the ease of repairing any breakdowns which may occur. It will be appreciatedthat since coin controlled vending machines are compact and the clearance between the mechanism and the inside walls of the cabinet is small, most repair work is feasible only by removing the mechanism from the cabinet.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved means for keying a single external control into driving engagement with the dispensing means of any selected magazine. The selective vending machine disclosed in this invention is of the type which has a single external control and a plurality of coin slots, one for each storage magazine. The customer performs the act of selection by dropping a coin into a slot indicated on the front of the machine as being in association with the magazine containing the particular merchandise which the customer wants delivered. Thus, by way of example, in the vending machine shown in the drawings, there are two magazines and hence two coin slots. A feature of the invention contributing to the attainment of this object is the provision of a driving disk actuated by the single external control on the machine and having on each side thereof in operable relationship a driven disk mounted on a shaft which through gearing drives a dispensing-means on an associated magazine. The driving disk and the driven disks possess peripheral lugs and are so spaced from one another that a coin such asa penny may-be dropped between the driving disk and one of the driven disks so that rotation of the driving disk will by means of the penny and the lugs rotate one of the driven disks. This assembly of the disks and driven shafts is positioned directly beneath the central wall of the die casting heretofore mentioned so that the two coin mechanisms which are disposedin side by side relationship will dropacceptable coins, one between the driving disk and the right hand driven disk and other between the driving disk and the left hand driven disk. By this simple arrangement, it is possible for the machine to deliver a selected kind of merchandise whenever the customer drops a coin into a selected coin slot and actuates a single external control.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved baflie for feeding bulk material, such as peanuts, into a portioning wheel for measuring and delivering selected quantities of the bulk material into a delivery chute. The term portioning wheel" when used herein refers to a wheel divided into segmental compartments by partitioning walls and usually pivoted along a vertical axis. This wheel is mounted at the bottom of a storage bin or magazine with a battle disposed thereabovein such a way that the segmental compartments of the portioning wheel will pass under the bafile as they move over an opening into a delivery chute. This baflie prevents a flow of bulk material from a storage bin through the chute. One of the features of this invention is a sloped baiile of semi-circular configuration having a plurality of resilient helixes terminating immediately above the plane of the top of the portioning wheel whereby bulk material above each portioning compartment will be blocked from movement over a delivery orifice with the result that the volume of each portioning compartment will measure the quantity of bulk material which is dispensed on each actuation of the dispensing means. The problem encountered here is that caused by the tendency of the bulk material to jamb at critical points due to the weight of the material above. The sloped baiile directs the bulk material from the storage magazine above into selected compartments of the portioning wheel and the resilient helixes are positioned on the baflle at the point where the forwardly advancing upper edge of the compartment of the portioning wheel passes beneath the lower edge of the baiiie. This is the point where jamming of bulk material is most likely to occur.

A further object of this invention is to prevent a customer's jumping bulk material out of a filled compartment in a portioning wheel into the orifice of the delivery chute whereby bulk material may be obtained without the deposit of a coin in the coin mechanism. It is essential that neither shaking nor tipping a vending machine cause the machine to deliver merchandise. One of the features of this invention is the provision of flexible walls which may be described as secondary baflies positioned underneath the main baiiie in such a manner as to register with the partitions of the portioning wheel when the latter is in normal position. The result of this arrangement is that no amount of juggling can throw material in a loaded compartment of the pertioning wheel over the partitioning wall of that compartment into the orifice of the delivery chute. These secondary baiiies assure complete delivery of bulk material in the compartment positioned over the delivery chute and prevent the escape of any material from an adjoining loaded compartment of the portioning wheel regardless of the position of the vending machine.

A further object of this invention is to provide a check upon the movement of the portioning wheel so that rapid actuation of the external control will not cause that wheel to spin, thereby causing more than one compartment of the portioning wheel to pass over the delivery orifice on a single actuation of the machine. A feature of this invention contributing to the accomplishment of this object is the provision of radial arms on the outward faces of the previously mentioned driven disks which arms are formed integral with the disks and are at approximately right angles to each other. During the actuation of the driving disk, a blocking member, which is actuated by the external control, moves in between two of these radial arms with the result that the driven disk can not be spun, either forwardly or backwardly.

Another object of this invention is to assure complete actuation of the external control upon each stroke so as to make it necessary for the customer, in order to obtain his merchandise, to advance the external control to a point where springs will return it to normal position. Toward this end, a plurality of full stroke pawls are provided for use in conjunction with a row of teeth disposed on the driving disk.

Another object of this invention is to provide a means for enabling a customer to return the external control to normal position even though the external control is held in partially actuated position by a full stroke pawl. A full stroke pawl exists for the purpose of holding an external control in partially actuated position so as to indicate visually to a customer that a stroke has not been completed. On the other hand, a customer who is trying to abuse the machine, instead of further pressing the external control downwardly, may try to pull the control upwardly, and, if the external control does not yield, the customer might be able to break one of the moving parts, such as th full stroke pawl. A feature of this invention is the employment of a spring between two lever arms in the driving mechanism. This spring holds the arms in normal relationship but will permit the arms to separate in the event that a return movement of the external control is attempted when the driving mechanism is held against such movement by a full stroke pawl. By this arrangement a customer can force upwardly the external control to normal position without in any way affecting the position of the driving mechanism.

The empty lock disclosed in this invention is the subject of an application by its sole inventor, Ernest H. Thompson. Serial No. 329,436, filed April 13, 1940.

These and such other objects as may hereinafter appear are attained in the embodiment of the invention, shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the cabinet with the door closed;

Figure 2 is a front view in elevation of the mechanism within th cabinet:

Figure 3 is a side view in elevation of the mechanism with the base of one of the peanut storage magazines partially cut away;

Figure 4 is a view of the coin mechanism taken on the line 4-1 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a rear view of the mechanism with the lower supporting arm partly cut away to disclose part of the driving mechanism;

Figure 6 is a bottom view of the mechanism:

Figure 7 is a view of the main casting;

Figure 8 is a view of the merchandise chutes;

Figure 9 is a view of the dispensing means housing;

Figure 10 is a perspective view of the portioning wheel;

Figure 11 is a perspective view of the driving disk and both of the driven disks with a penny therebetween;

Figure 12 is a side view in elevation showing a coin resting on the hub of the driving disk;

Figure 13 is a view in section of the driving assembly taken on the line l3-l3 of Figure 12;

Figure 14 is a bottom plan view of the portioning wheel;

Figure 15 is a view of a driven disk showing the face positioned next to the driving disk;

Figure 16 is a perspective view of the bafiie.

member; and

Figure 17 is a view in section taken on the line "-1 I of Figure 2.

Continuing to refer to the drawings, the numeral ll identifies a cabinet having a hinged lid l2 and a front door H. The door ll overlaps th hinged lid l2 when the latter is in closed position so that a locking means for securing the door II in closed position on the cabinet I! will also serve to maintain the hinged lid I! in closed position. The front of the cabinet is slotted at I6 and 18 to permit the passage of coins into the receivin slots of a coin mechanism, described hereinafter. Similarly, the slot 2!! permits the vertical actuation of an external control 22. A hole 2| registers with a return coin cup 26, see Figure 2, and the hole 28 registers with the delivery chute 30, see Figure 2.

Referring to Figure 4, the back wall of the cabinet is indicated by the numeral 32. To this back wall 32 is fastened by an appropriate means a reinforcing plate 34 having brackets 36 and 38. Holes 40 and 42 in said bracket are positioned to receive the supporting stud members 44 and 45 respectively and, as will appear more clearly hereinafter, by simply raising the entire operable mechanism so that the studs 44 and 4 clear the holes 40 and 42, the operable mechanism may be lifted out of the cabinet. It will be observed in Figure 4 that in the actual construction in the cabinet II, the reinforcingplate 34 is part of the bottom 85 of the cabinet. Because the studs 44 and 46 are in vertical alignment, the mechanism can Swing appreciably when the door I4 is open. When the door I4 is closed, a guide-member I mounted on the principal casting which supports the mechanism, see Figures 1 and 3, rests in the opening 28 of the door I4 and in conjunction with a steadying effect obtained by the depending wall 5| of the chute 38 seating in channel 33, see Figure 3, formed in the lower forward edge of the cabinet I8, prevents lateral movement of the mechanism.

The central casting One of the features of this invention is the provision of a casting which will serve as the central framework for the entire operable mechanism. Such a casting may be seen in Figure 7 of the drawings where it is identified by the numeral 58. Viewed broadly, it consists of a wall member generally identified by the numeral 52 which, as may be seen in Figure 2, is disposed at right angles to the front of the machine so that a coin mechanism utilizing this wall member 52 may be mounted on each side thereof in operable relationship with a driving mechanism responsive to. the external control 22. Returning to Figure 7, a heavily reinforced bracket 54, formed integral with the wall member 52 and at right angles thereto, earries the brackets 56 and 58. In these brackets, 56 and 58, are the stud members, heretofore mentioned, 44 and 46 which may best be seen in Figure 4.

The casting 58 is designed to support two cylindrical housings 68 and 62 for dispensing mechanisms, see Figure 2, one on each side of the wall member 52, a twin delivery chute assembly 64, see Figure 8, an empty lock assembly generally identified by the numeral 66, see Figure 3, the external control 22 together with the driving mechanism actuated thereby and two coin mechanisms one on each side of the wall member 52. It will be appreciated that the casting 58 is particularly designed for use with two coin mechanisms and two storage magazines, but the principle of utilizing a central frame for providing a wall for many coin mechanisms and bulk magazines is evident. Moreover, the opposite sides of the wall member 52 are identical because it is intended in this particular vending machine that both coin mechanisms shall check pennies, but it is evident that the casting could be modified so as to permit the assembly of a nickel coin mechanism on one side of the casting and a penny coin mechanism on the other.

The casting forms a common wall for two adjoining coin mechanisms The two coin mechanisms utilized in this machine are identical and hence it will only be necessary to describe one of them. It will be appreciated, however, that in vending machines employing this central casting for different types of coin mechanisms, as one for passing nickels and one for passing pennies, the common wall of the casting could be modified to meet needs. In such a case the opposite sides of the wall member 52 would be quite different because a coin mechanism for checking nickels ordimes is not like one for testing pennies, which is the one actually shown and to be described.

Referring now principally to Figure 7, but also to Figures 4 and 2, it will be observed that a coin slot 18, see Figure 2, is'formed between the walls of the casting at 12, see Figure '7, and a .to a link 82, which,

scavenger plate I4, see Figure 2, pivoted on the arms 16 and I8, which are formed integral with the casting 58, said scavenger plate I4 having an arm extension 88, see Figure 2, which is coupled as will be described hereinafter, is drawn downwardly by the external control 22 in the lowermost portion of its stroke.

The scavenger plate 14, see Figure 4, extends downwardly to form with the wall member 52 the side walls of a coin track, identified by the dotted line 84. The wall member 52 carries a recess 86 having a configuration of a parallelogram, although this configuration is not important, into which recess is seated a bracket member 88, see Figure 17, turned inwardly on the scavenger I4 and held within the recess by a spring 98, see Figure 4, connecting the scavenger I4 on one side of the wall member 52 to the scavenger 82 on the other side thereof at a point below the pivotal points of the two, whereby the two scavenger plates 14 and 92 are drawn tightly against the wall member 52 so that the brackets, such as 88, seat in the recesses, such as 86. A coin inserted in the slot I8 follows the dotted coin track 84.until it strikes a combined anvil and testing magnet 84 where, if it lacks a predetermined resiliency or if it possesses magnetic properties, its speed .will be sufficiently retarded to cause it to follow a dotted line 96 which identifies a return coin track formed between the wall member 52 and a plate 88 afixed to the casting 58 at points, such as I88. This plate 98 with a corresponding plate I82, see Figure' 2, forms with the projection I84, see Figures 7 and 2, a coin return cup which will register with the opening 24, see Figure 1, when the door I4 of the cabinet is closed.

If, however, the coin possesses the requisite resiliency, and is nonmagnetic it will have sufflcient momentum to pass over the gap indicated by the numeral 96-, formed by the return coin track and the wall projection I86 with the result that the coin will lodge in a holding member I88, see Figure 4. This holding member I88 forms one end of a scale II8 pivoted at H2 and having a weight II4 in threaded engagement with a stud II6, see Figure 5, and held in a set position by the spring member II8. When an acceptable coin, such as a genuine penny, reaches the coin holding member I88, the weight H4 is overcome and the scale swings downwardly to position I28, and referring to Figure 7, the penny drops out of the holdingmember and descends along the dotted line I22 where it leaves the coin mechanism and drops into a portion of the driving mechanism, identified in Figure 4 by the numeral I24. A coin in operable position within this part of the coin delivery mechanism is indicated by the numeral I26. The driving mechanism will be described hereafter.

Continuing to refer to Figure 4, during the time required by the holding member I88 on the scale II8 to drop into position I28, a scavenger I28 has dropped into the dotted position I38 where it will cause any coin descending the coin track 84, see Figure '7, during this interval to follow the return coin track 96 to the return coin cup generally identified by the numeral 26.

If the coin descending the track 84 has sufficient resiliency to reach the holding member I88 of the scale II8 but lacks suiiicient weight to overcome the weight II4, it becomes necessary to remove the coin from the holding member I88 if the machine is not to be placed out of service.

This is effected by means of the scavenger I32,

see Figure 4, which is pivoted at I34 on the plate 98 and urged upwardly by the spring I36, but

held in the position shown in Figure 4 by means of the bracket I38 engaging an associated bracket on the L-shaped lever I40 which is pivoted at I42 and to which is affixed the external control 22. This lever I40 is held in normal position by the strong spring I44 which is anchored to the bracket 18, see Figure 4 of the casting 50 at I46 and to the lever arm I40 at I48, see Figure 4. If a customer has dropped a coin of a nature which will reach the holding member I08 of the scale IIO but which will not cause the scale to assume position I20, the customer not knowing this will press down on the external control 22, whereupon the lever arm I40 will descend so as to permit the scavenger I32 to move upwardly under the impulse of the spring I36 into the dotted position I50 where it will cause the coin to be thrown back over the partition I06, see Figure 7, whereupon the unacceptable coin or token will descend the return coin track 96 to the return coin cup 26.

The coin mechanism on the opposite side of the wall member 52 of the casting 50 is identical with that coin mechanism just described, al-- though it will be observed in Figure 2 that for conveniences of construction the lever arm I40, which is joined to the corresponding lever arm I52 so that the two lever arms of the two coin mechanisms are operated as a unit by the external control 22, is held in its normal unactuated position by a single spring I44. A link 82 on the side of the common wall member 42 opposite to the spring I44 carries a slot, not shown, which rides on a stud I 54, see Figure 2, afiixed to the lever arm I52 in such a way that the stud I54 reaches the lower end of the slot in the link 82 and directs it downwardly to spread the two scavenger plates 14 and 92 when the external control knob 22 has almost finished its stroke. The p pose of this action of the scavenger is to move any slug which has come to rest between the scavenger wall and the bracket 88, see Figure 2, adjacent to the recess 86, from the coin mechanism and this is accomplished, in the case of the scavenger 14, see Figure 2, by moving it outwardly away from the common wall member 52 so that the bracket 88 will push the slug over the edge of the anvil and magnet 94 and permit it to drop downwardly to follow the return coin track 96. It will be observed in Figure 2 that the plate 98 is flared outwardly at I56 to permit this movement of the scavenger plate 14 and to make certain that the slug drops downwardly along the return coin track 96.

It will be appreciated that the benefits obtained by the use of a central casting 50 to form a wall of one or more coin mechanisms is in no Way dependent upon the employment of two like coin mechanisms. While it is simpler to provide appropriate connections between the external control, such as 22, and the driving mechanism on the one hand with like coin mechanisms on the other, this could be worked out without difliculty for vending machines calling for a penny coin mechanism on the one side and a nickel or dime coin mechanism on the other.

The storage binsand dispensing mechanisms As may be seen in Figure 2, this vending machine has two cylindrical storage bins I60 and I62 which are supported by the two cylindrical housings 60 and 62. The magazines I60 and I62 are held in spaced relationship at their upper portions by a plate I64 having its forward and rearward edges I66 and I68, see Figure 3, curved upwardly to assist in preventing nuts, salt and the like from falling upon the mechanism during the filling of the magazines. Each magazine is provided with a lid I10 and I12.

Referring to Figure 9, the cylindrical housing 60 is a die casting of circular cross section having an inward shoulder I14 upon which rests the bottom of the cylindrical magazine I62 and projections I16 and I18, whereby the housing 60 may be assembled with the projecting portion 54 of the casting, see Figure 7, by means of holes such as I and I84. Bayonet slots I86, I88 and I90 and the locking spring member I92, see Figure 9, serve to receive properly spaced lugs, such as I94 and I96, see Figures 2 and 6, which are rigidly secured to the lower wall of the magazine I62 and function in the conventional manner.

In order to permit descent of the bulk material such as peanuts from the housing 60, a hole which is shown in dotted outline in Figure 6 and is identified by the numeral I98 is provided.

Centrally of the bottom of the cylindrical housing 60 is journalled a shaft 200, see Figure 3, passing through a reinforcing shoulder 202 formed in the casting of the housing. A beveled gear 204 is disposed on the lower end of the shaft 200 beneath the bottom of the housing and a cross pin 206 passed through a hole in the shaft within the housing performs the two functions of maintaining the shaft in position and of driving a portioning wheel'208 which is shown in Figures 10 and 14.

Cast into the bottom of the housing 60 is the shoulder 2I0 through which is drilled a threaded hole to receive the screw 2I2 and the spring 2. Referring to Figure 8, the delivery chute 64, heretofore identified, consists of a cover plate 2I6 having means for supporting a hinged weighted door therefrom. .In assembled relationship this double delivery chute is supported from the bottoms, referring to Figure 2; of the two cylindrical housings 60 and 62 by means of the screws 2I2 and 2I8.

Referring now to Figures 5 and 6, two brackets 220 and 222 depend from the bottom of the cylindrical housing 60, which in Figure 5 is viewed from the rear. These brackets support a shaft 224 which carries on the outer end a beveled gear 226 in mesh with the beveled gear 204. It will be understood, therefore, that the power for operating the portioning wheel, such as 208, within the cylindrical housing 60 is derived from the shaft 224 acting through the beveled gears 226 and 204.

The portioning wheel is shown in Figures 10 and 14 and comprises a die casting divided into four compartments 228 by double wall members 230 and 232, there being an upper rim 234 extending around the portioning wheel for the joint purpose of providing strength and a seating surface for a bailie 236, see Figures 16 and 3, shortly to be described. As viewed in Figure 10 the portioning wheel is designed to move in a counterclockwise direction and inasmuch as the wall 230 and those walls corresponding thereto will be obliged to move bulk material along the floor of the cylindrical housing 60 when the portioning wheel is rotated, this wall is made heavier than the following wall 232. Figure 14 is a bottom view of the portioning wheel showing how the hub ring 238 is cut at 240 and 242 in order to receive the ends of the pin 206 by means of which the shaft 200 imparts rotational movement to the portioning wheel 206, see Figure 3.

For the purpose of properly filling the compartments of the portioning wheel 208 there is provided in the bottom of each magazine a bafile member, generally identified by the nu-' meral 236. This bafile member 236 is shown positioned on the portioning wheel 200 in Figures 3 and 6 and is shown in perspective in Figure 16. Generally speaking, it comprises a circular band 246 and a sloping floor portion 240 which terminates at an edge 258 which is approximately a radius of the circle forming the ring member 246 at which edge it drops off abruptly to form the surface 250. The surface 250 is cut away to receive a plurality of helixes 256. A sloping surface 260 forms another portion of the bailie member 236 but it slopes at a greater angle than the surface 248. A secondary bafile 262 forms the lower portion of this sloping surface 260, for a purpose hereinafter explained.

The baffle member 236 is positioned in a magazine by resting a downwardly turned groove 265, see Figures 16 and 3, into a circular channel formed in the upper circumference of the portioning wheel 208 by a raised edge 261 of the ring 234, see Figure 3. In orderto prevent the baffle member 236 turning with the portioning wheel upon actuation thereof, a lug 239, which may be seen in dotted outline in Figure 16, is disposed in the outer wall'of the circular band 246. The lug may be dropped into the slot I86 of the housing 60, see Figure 9, orthe slot 212 of the housing 62, see Figure 2. Continuing to refer to Figure 2, the slot 212 is a 36 downward extension of one of the slots which holds a magazine in assembly with the housing 62. In the case of the housing 62, the deep slot 212 is positioned on the forward side thereof, whereas the deep slot is positioned adjacent the coin mechanism in the housing 60, see Figure 9, because it is desirable that a single baflle member 236 be usable interchangeably for either of the magazines. Referring to Figure 6, inasmuch as the holes in the bottom of the housings 60 and 62 are adjacent to each other, the baflle members 236 are positioned in opposed relationship to each other so that their delivery edges will occupy the positions indicated by the dotted line 244 in the housing 60 and fully shown in the hous ng 62, see Figure 6.

The baflle member 236 has two functions in addition to that of preventing flow of bulk material through the opening in the bottom of the housings. It must skim off the bulk material from the top of each compartment as it passes beneath the baflle in order to prevent a compartment having bulk material heaped thereabove from passing into delivery position, and secondly, it must avoid jamming of bulk material at critical points. 'In order to prevent any heaping of the bulk material in a compartment as it moves toward delivery position, the baflle member 236 having a downwardly directed wall portion 250, see Figure 16, is positioned immediately above the portioning wheel 208, see Figure 3, whereby the lower edge of the wall- 250 is flush with the plane of the upper edge of the portioning wheel 208. By this arrangement the baflle member will permit only bulk material lying entirely below the upper edge of the compartments of the portioning wheel to advance to the elivery orifice.

Jamming may occur between the lower edge of the bafile and an advancing partitioning wall of the compartments of the portioning wheel 208 and always positioned with reference to the portion-.

ing wheel so that the portioning wheel advances against and not away from it. This relative positioning is assured by the action of the lug 239 and the elongated slots 212 and I86, heretofore mentioned.

A feature of this invention is the provision of secondary bailles for the purpose of preventing a customer jumping nuts in a compartment of the portioning wheel which has passed underneath the wall of helixes 256 over the edge of the 4 compartment and out the delivery orifice. The size of the compartments of the portioning wheel with relation to the baflle is such that in order to get a compartment completely under the outlet orifice so as to assure full delivery of the contents of the compartment, a portion of the next following compartment passes underneath the wall of helixes. Under such circumstances, a customer could by jolting the machine. cause bulk material in a loaded compartment to jump over the partition intothe delivery orifice. Moreover, if it were possible to pick up the machine, a customer might by rocking it completely empty a magazine. In order to avoid this possibility, two secondary baiiles, which are indicated in dotted outline by the numerals 215 and 211, are provided, see Figures 16 and 6.

These bailles extend downwardly and terminate at the plane of the bottom of the baflle member 236 which is approximately the plane of the top of the portioning wheel when the two are assembled together. These two secondary baflles, 215 and 211, are at approximately right angles to each other, and, referring to Figure 10 register with any two adjacent partitioning walls of the compartment. The secondary baille 215 will prevent any bulk material in a compartment which has partially passed beneath the wall of helixes 256, which is the condition of the portioning wheel just before a normal cycle of the machine commences, from passing over into the delivery orifice.

The same is true of the secondary baille 211. The compartment of the portioning wheel at that side of the baflle member 236 has partially passed beneath the flexible secondary baflie 262 so that the bulk material is dropping into this compartment. Were it not for the secondary baflle 211 it would be possible to cause bulk material to pass over the rear wall of the compartment into the delivery orifice. The secondary baflle 211 prevents this.

The secondary ballie 262 may be bent upwardly so as to permit the passage of nuts thereunder, under that comparatively rare circumstance where the portioning wheel has been backed up a little bit and nuts have accumulated beneath this secondary baflle 262.

The foregoing sets forth the means for storing The driving mechanism 7 As indicated heretofore in this selective vending machine, a single external control 22 is used for the purpose of actuating the dispensing mechanism associated with either magazine while the customer selects the magazine to be actuated by depositing his coin in one or the other of two coin mechanisms. It is evident, therefore, that a machine of this type must provide means for coupling the single external control to either one of the dispensing means. Broadly speaking, the means for effecting this coupling of the external control to one of the dispensing means is the penny itself dropped in one of the coin slots. The means for enabling the penny to perform this function will now be described.

Referring to Figure 4, the lever arm- I40 has a projecting portion 260 over which is hooked a link 262 which slides in the channel member 294:

The link 262 has therein an elongated slot 266 along which a capped stud 266 fastened to the channel member 264 may ride. The function of this telescoping arrangement of the channel member 264 and the link 262 in conjunction with the function of a spring 290 will be described hereafter. For present purposes it is sufficient to say that under normal operation of the machine, downward movement of the lever arm I40 will cause downward movement of the channel member 284 and upward movement of the lever arm I40 will cause upward movement of the channel member 264.

The channel member 264 is pivotally coupled .to an arm 292 at 294, and referring now to Figure 11, the arm 292 is seen to be a circumferential projection on a driving disk 296 having a smooth rim facing 296, a hub 300, a series of teeth 302, a semi-circular raised portion 304 and a lug 2.96. This driving disk 296 is centrally positioned as may be seen in Figures and 6 beneath the wall member 52 of the casting 50 and is held in posi- 4 tion by means of the two shafts 224 and. 306,

and the inside face of the driven disk 6" is slightly in excess of the thickness of a penny. Moreover, the outside diameter of the driven disk 3|0 exceeds that of the outside diameter of the driving disk 296 by a distance suflicient to permit the projections such as 3 l6 to move without interfering with any part of the driving disk. including the driving arm 292. The distance, referring now to Figure 12, between the outer edge of the hub 360 on the driving disk 296 and a projection such as 316 on the driven disk 326 is less than the diameter of a penny which is shown in position 328. Assuming that no penny is in the assembly, referring to Figure 13, the driving disk 296 may be moved freely without imparting any movement-to eitherof the driven disks 310 or 326. On the other hand, with a penny in the position 329, see Figure 11, a counterto the shaft 306 and actuates the dispensing mechanism in the housing 62, see Figure 5.

In order to prevent rotation of the shafts 224 and 306 when they are not coupled by a coin to the driving disk 296, a detent 332, see Figure 4, is provided for cooperative action with the notches 322 which are ninety degrees apart in the circumferences of the two driven disks.

7 The detent 332 is pivoted at 334 to the plate 96 V engages the notch 322.

shown in Figure 6 in dotted axial alignment. Y

As heretofore described, the shaft 224 is mounted beneath the cylindrical housing 60 and the shaft 308 is mounted beneath the cylindrical housing 62. In assembling, the shaft 224 on the housing 60 is secured to the casting 50. The driving disk 296 is slipped over the shaft 224 and the shaft 308 and housing 62 are next positioned. The driven dis i5,3l0, therefore, is journalled upon the abutting ends of the stub shafts 224 and 306.

On the inner end of each of these shafts 224 and 306 is a driven disk as 3l0, both sides of which may be seen in Figures 15 and 11. The innerwall of the disk 3| 0 has an annular channel 3l2 for seating the hub 306 of the driving disk 296, see Figure 15. Additionally, it has an annular recess 314, the outer edge of which 316 will Just clear the outer edge of the projection 366 on the driving disk 296, see Figure 11, and the inner edge of which will clear the raised semicircular portion 304 of the driving disk 296. Pro- .iecting inwardly from the rim of the disk 310 are four projections, as 3l6 and 320, see Figures 11 and 15, while immediately behind each of these projections in the circumferential edge of the disk are notches as 322 and 324. Referring to Figure 13, a disk 326 similar to the disk 310 is mounted on the innerend of the shaft 306.

When the driving disk 296 is in assembled relationship with the driven disk 326, the distance between the face, see Figure 11, of the driving disk 296 at the positions of pennies 326 and 623 and is limited to vertical movement only by an offset member 336 stamped from the plate 96. The detent 332 has a projection 336 disposed to slide along the surface of the driven disk 310. A spring 340 urges the detent against the surface of the driving and driven disk. This detent 332 is shown in position in Figure 4 where it i. e., the position at the beginning of a cycle of the machine, and when in this position, a coin may drop between the driving and driven disks because the detent is out of vertical ali nment of the coin track.

By referring to Figure 5, it will be observed that two detents are provided, one for e ch driven disk. A single detent would not suffice, for thedisengagement of the detent by a coin in one side of the driving assembly would release the other driven disk which would be free to rotate as by joggling and thereby discharge bulk material from the other'bin.

The movement of the coin to perform its function is now fairly apparent. when a customer inserts a coin in the slot l6, see Figure 1, it descends the coin track indicated by the numbers 64 and 122 in Figure 'I and enters the o ening and assumes the position indicated by 329 between-the driving disk 266 and the driven disk 310, shown in Figures 11 and 13. The customer new advances the external control 22, see Figure 4, downwardly which through the lever arm I46, the link 262, the channel member 264 and the arm 292 causes a counter-clockwise movement of the driving disk 296, see Figures 4 and 12. Referring to Figure 12, the lug 306 moves the coin in a counter-clockwise direction, and referring to Figure 4, the coin earns the detent 332 out of the notch 322 so that it may ride along the flaring rim portion of the driven member 3l0. As the driven member 3| 6 rotates, the detent 332 is cammed outwardly, referring to This is normal position,

Figure 12, so as to clear the following projec- "tion 3I8. Returning to Figure 12, as the coin continues its counter-clockwise movement, it encounters the projection 3I9 on the far side of the driven disk 3I0 and drives the driven disk 3I0 in a counter-clockwise direction. This movement causes actuation of the delivery mechanism whereby the portioning wheel is rotated ninety degrees and a filled compartment thereof passes over the delivery orifice so that the bulk material therein drops into chute 30 where it is held by a weighted door 310 until removed by the customer.

The length of the stroke of the driving disk 29B is somewhat in excess of ninety degrees and at the end of the stroke the detent 332, which has been sliding along the surface of the driven disk 3I0 drops into the next notch on the surface of the driven disk 3I0. At this point the coin is in the dotted position indicated in Figure 4 by the numeral 344 and is able to drop into a coin till 346 mounted therebelow. The customer now releases the external control 22 which is drawn upwardly by action of the spring I44 and in so doing, referring to Figure 12, the semicircular raised portion 304 encounters the coin and pushes it outwardly so that it falls into the coin till 346. The driven disk 3I0 having been advanced ninety degrees, an opening similar to 329 is again presented to the bottom of the coin chute in the coin mechanism and the machine is ready to repeat its delivery cycle.

Three protective features incorporated into the driving mechanism of this vending machine have yet to be described. The first relates to a full stroke pawl. In manually operable bulk vending machines it is necessary to provide means for compelling a customer to actuate an external control to a point such that the extern l control will complete the cycle of the dispensing operation and return to normal position. Otherwise, the machine may be left in partially actuated position so that it is inoperative. In order to compel a customer to cause the external control to go through a full stroke, it is frequently the practice to provide what is called a full stroke pawl which compels a customer to fully actuate the external control bef re any merchandise is delivered. This pawl is novelly positioned in applicants invention.

Referring to Figure 11, it wi l be recalled that on the driv ng disk 296 t ere is a series o teeth 302, and referring to Fi ure 4. a pawl 350 pivoted on the min 352 supported by a U-sha'oed bracket 354 is mounted on the plate 98. This U-shaoed bracket is urged in a counter-clockwise direction by the spring 340 with the result that the pawl 350 is pressed against the projection 3I8. When a penny reaches position 328 and the external control 22 is actuated. the projection M8 is advanced forwardly until it no longer supports the oawl350 which under impulse of the spring 340 drops downwardly on the teeth 302 which are also moving forwardly. The pawl engages the teeth 302 and prevents a backward movement of the driving disk 296 or the driven disk 3I0 with the result that the external control 22 will not return to normal until it has moved downward y sufiiciently far to advance the next projection 320 on the driven disk 3) which earns the pawl 350 out of engagement with the teeth 302. This occurs at the time that the detent 332 has dropped into the next notch with the result that the freeing of the driving disk 296 for a return or reverse movement in response to an upward movement of the external control- 22 does not cause a like reversal of' movement-in the driven disk 3I0 for the detent 332 is holding the driven disk 3I0. As may be seen in Figures 5 and 6, there are two full stroke pawls, one for controlling each dispensing mechanism.

The secondprotective feature relates to the employment of the spring 290, see Figure 4, in conjunction with the telescopng, arrangement of the link 282 and the channel member 284. It will be recalled that the full stroke pawl 350 will hold the entire driving mechanism in partially actuated position until a full stroke is completed. It follows that if a link of fixed length connected the lever arm I40 to the arm 292, it would be impossible for a customer to raise the external control 22 to normal position without breaking some connecting part. Unfortunately, vending machines are subjected to considerable abuse, due not only to malice but to impatience. Some customers who partially actuate an external control 22 and find it held in partially actuated pos tion without dispensing merchandise by an unseen pawl, would force the lever upwards and damage the machine. For this reason it is desirable to permit a customer to raise the external control 22 toward normal position even though the driving mechanism commencing with the chan nel member 284 and the arm 292 are held in fixed position by the full stroke pawl 350. To effect this the spring 290 is anchored between the lever arm I40 and the channel member 284 and they are held in yieldable relationship subject to the limits of the slot 286 in the link 282. Normally, the channel member 284 and the lever arm I40 bear the relationship shown in Figure 4 throughout the entire stroke of the external control, but if the external control is stopped at some point short of a full stroke so that the pawl 350 holds the external control as well as the entire driving train in partially actuated position, it is possible to raise the external control by expanding the spring 290.

The third protective feature of this driving mechanism is provided for the purpose of preventing the spinning of a dispensing mechanism by rapid actuation of the external control 22. Referring to Figure 11, the outer face of the driven disk 3I0 possesses four radiating wales, as 400. Each wale-is at approximately right angles to adjacent wales. On the channel member 284 is positioned a triangularly shaped blocking member 402.- The member 283 and the blocking member 40I correspond respectively to the member 284 and the blocking member 402 except that they are on opposite .sides of the driving mechanism. The angle a of the projection 402, identified in Figure 11, is an obtuse angle. but the exact configuration of the projection 402 is important only insofar as its two sides forming the angle a must engage two adjacent wales. In the event a penny reaches the position 329, as shown in Figure 11. the counterclockwise movement of the driving disk 29!; imparts a similar movement to t e driven disk 3I0 with the result that the blocking member 492 passes between two of the wales 400. By so doing, the'driven disk 3I0 can not advance any more rapidly than the driving disk 296 because the latter is positively coupled to the driving channel member 284 which through the blocking member 402 controls the driven disk 3I0. Similarly, the driven disk 3I0 can not be reversed or backed up when the driving mechanism is in partly actuated position.

The empty lock The empty lock shown in the drawings is the invention of only one of the co-inventors in this application and is the subject, therefore, of a separate application, bearing Serial No. 329,436,-

filed April 13, 1940. For the purpose of this application it is sufficient to say that, referring to Figure 3, the testing finger 66, which is pivoted at a point just outside of the magazine I62, is adapted to engage by means of an extending lever arm 380 the counterweight III on the scale IIO, see Figure 4. If there is an absence of merchandise in the magazine I82 at the point where the testing finger 66 is positioned, the testing finger will drop so as to raise the counterweight III, which in turn lowers the holding member I88. The scavenger I28 dropsinto dotted position I29 and prevents the vending machine from accepting coins.

Summary of operation of the machine This vending machine is built around the casting 50 which can be mounted in or removed from the cabinet I 8 by the simple method of opening the door of the cabinet and dropping the studs 44 and 6 of the casting 50 with the entire operable mechanism thereon into the holes 48 and 42 of the brackets 36 and 38 supported on the rear wall of the cabinet. For ordinary servicing purposes the coin till 346 is readily assembled and the top of the cabinet may be opened upwardly to permit pouring of bulk material, such as peanuts into the magazines.

With the mechanism in position and the magazines filled, a customer by inspecting the contents of two front panels 362 and 354 may make a selection between the two coin slots I6 and I8, see Figure 1. If he selects the coin slot I8 and deposits a coin, referring to Figure 7, th coin will pass down the coin track 84 where it will lodge, see Figure 4, in the holding element I88 of the scale III). If the coin is acceptable it will overcome the counterweight III and after leaving the holding member I08, it will continue its course downwardly along the dotted coin track I22 until it reaches position 329,-in the left hand or forward coin slot shown in Figure 11.

The customer will now move the external control lever 22 downwardly and in so doing, referring to Figure 4, will impart a counter-clockwise movement to the driving disk 296 which, through the penny, rotates the shaft 224, see Figure 5, in the same direction as that of the driving disk 296. By means of the beveled gears 284 and 226 this rotational movement of the shaft 224 is communicated to the shaft 208, see Figure 3, and by means of the pin 206 to the portioning wheel 288. Inasmuch as each full stroke of the external control 22 rotates the driving disk 296 through an arc of ninety degrees and inasmuch as the shaft 200 rotates through the same arc, it is apparent that on each full actuation of the external control 22 th portioning wheel 288 will be rotated by ninety degrees. The portioning wheel has four compartments and it follows that on'each actuation of the external control, one compartment will be brought over the aperture I88, see Figure 6, whereby the contents of the particular compartment will drop, see Figure 8, into the right hand opening of the dispensing chute 64 and will be stopped by the heavily weighted door 310, see Figure 2. This door 310 is pivoted at its top and has sumcient weight to hold back the bulk material in the chute above it. All the patron need do is to lift the door to release the bulk material.

The machine is so designed that it will not completely empty a compartment until the external control 22 has been fully actuated and the 'full stroke pawl 35!! has been cammed out of operative position with respect to the driving disk 296.

It will, of course, be appreciated that many changes may be made in the apparatus described without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, the use of studs on a central casting which supports the entire delivery mechanism is not limited to any particularly positioned studs. The stud receiving means might b mounted in the side of the cabinet and yet permit the insertion and withdrawal of the vending mechanism through the front door of the cabinet with ease. Similarly, the provision of driving and driven disks for cooperative action by means of a coin need not necessarily be positioned beneath adjoining coin mechanisms. The driving and driven disk positioned adjacent to one another and receiving a coin would fall within the spirit ofthis invention even though it were some distance away from another driving and driven disk. Similarly, numerous other equivalents could be devised without departing from the spirit of this invention.

Having thus described the invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentof the United States is:

1. A driving assembly for coin operated vending' machines comprising, a driving disk having 5 teeth in its rim, driven disks in axial alignment on each side of said driving disk, a single external control operative to rotate said driving disk, means to couple said driving disk with said driven disk by means of a. coin, full stroke pawls, one

0 for each driven disk, disposed to engage said teeth, and lugs on the periphery of said driven disks and extending over a limited portion of the driving disk for holding the full stroke pawls out of engagement with said teeth when the driven disks have made a full operative movement, but releasing the associated full stroke pawl for engaging said teeth as a delivery stroke rotates a driven disk and one of such lugs.

2. In a vending machine comprising a cabinet, a casting within the cabinet having a wall, a single external control on the front of said wall, and a storage bin on each side of said wall, dispensing means at the base of each storage bin mounted on said casting and comprising a portioning wheel of similarly shaped segmental compartments, an aperture in the bottom of said storage bin beneath which saidsegmental compartments of the portioning wheel may be moved for delivery of bulk materials, a driven disk positively coupled to the portioning wheel and disposed to be coupled to the external control by means of a coin, notches equidistant around the driven disk of the same number and correspondingly positioned thereon to the partitioning walls of the portioning wheel, a. detent engaging said notches having a projecting portion so disposed as to cause the detent to be cammed out of engagement with the notch by a coin during a delivery operation, whereby the detent will permit rotation of the portioning wheel sufiicient to advanc only one compartment beneath the delivering orifice, and a coin chute integrally formed on each side of said wall for delivering acceptable coins to said coupling mechanism.

3. In a vending machine comprising an actuatmemes D I a 9 ing mechanism having a driving disk and a driven driven disk, and wales at approximately right disk disposed in axial alignment means for dellvangles to each other on the face of said driven ering acceptable coins between the driving disk disk so positioned that on an actuating stroke'the and the driven disk, lugs on said driven disk blocking member will pass between two of such and a. lug on said driving disk adapted to be cou- 5 wales and prevent a backward or spinning movepied by a coin deposited therebetween to .form a ment of the driven disk.

driving connection between the driving disk and the driven disk, a link connecting the driving disk GEORGE C. BAUMAN.

to the external control, a blocking member on JOHN E. BOLEN.

said link in alignment with the outer face of the i0 ERNEST H. THOMPSON. 

